Homeless count estimate shows partial picture

Chris Galbreth, right, and Adam Murphy speak with Jimmy Clark at the downtown CityBus center in January during the annual Point in Time survey in Lafayette. Galbreth is a case manager with Wabash Center. Murphy is planner/project manager for Lafayette’s Economic Development Department.
(Photo:
File photo/Journal & Courier
)

That's according to count organizer Jasmine Dowd, program coordinator for the YWCA's domestic violence program, who this week revealed initial estimates from the Point-in-Time count. The count annually tries to tally homeless people in Tippecanoe and seven surrounding counties.

The census, which is tied to federal homeless support funding, provides a snapshot look at the area's homeless population on just a single winter day. Consequently, the numbers don't mean what the public might think.

"The numbers don't accurately describe what's happening," Dowd said. "Even if it gives us something, it doesn't almost mean anything. It highlights that it is a problem, but also doesn't highlight how big of a problem it is."

Homeless service providers agree the tally severely undercounts the number of homeless in Lafayette. In Tippecanoe County alone, the most comprehensive estimate shows more than 900 residents move in and out of homelessness in a given year.

In 2013, 220 homeless were found during the course of the count.

Dowd has organized the count for three years. This year, she said, proved a particular struggle.

Indiana Veterans' Home, for example, did not participate, as it has in previous years, Dowd said. Instead of using the government-approved survey form, the home sent Dowd a number via email.

Because the home did not gather data properly, the data was unable to be included in the count. Dowd said that resulted in about 20 homeless people not being counted.

Melissa Templeton, a spokeswoman, said the home did not participate due to a "lack of interest" among homeless residents.

"Our residents feel this is their home, and if they don't want to participate, they don't have to," she said.

"We do have several residents with us primarily due to homelessness. We're happy to help them how we can, but if they want to keep that information private, they can."

The situation illustrates the difficulty organizers face in mobilizing facets of the community for the time-consuming count.

Still, the flawed system is the best method to compare homelessness year to year and it's a must for communities hoping for a slice of dwindling federal homeless dollars.

Just don't mistake the data for a full picture of Tippecanoe County's homeless, Dowd cautioned.

"It's one day and who we can find and can count," Dowd said. "Still, it's pretty big."

By the numbers

Here's a historic look at the number of homeless found by the annual Point-in-Time count.